Being Indian

ALI ABBAS ZAFAR IS IN THE THROES OF FILMING SALMAN KHAN’S BHARAT – A PERIOD DRAMA. KAJOL MATHUR BELIEVES IT’S A MAMMOTH LEAP IN TIME FOR THE DIRECTOR

- Kajol Mathur

Director Ali Abbas Zafar became a celebrity on social media the moment he tweeted that Priyanka Chopra would no more be part of his film Bharat and how the exit happened just in the ‘nick of time’. In all graciousness, he even wished Priyanka all the best for the glad tidings in her life – her subsequent engagement and marriage to American popstar Nick Jonas. As is well-known, Priyanka was supposed to star opposite Salman Khan in the magnum opus Bharat jointly produced by Reel Life Productions, Salman Khan Films and T-Series. Ask him about PeeCee walking out from his film and he says, “Well, well, well… there were a lot of things that she was busy with. But I’m not gonna say anything more about my ‘nick in time’ comment on Twitter. We all know the reality and the truth of the situation. As I’ve always maintained, we, as team Bharat, are extremely happy for Priyanka and where she’s in life right now.” He goes on to add that she had her reasons for not being part of Bharat. “And whether it was the producers, Salman or me, as adults we understood her reasons and let her go.” He emphasises that his equation with the actress has always been great. “There’s only happiness between us. We’re friends and will always be friends,” declares Ali who had worked with the actress in the hit Gunday (2014) previously.